Sudan orders release of Christian convert

Court orders release of 27-year-old woman who was sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity.

23 Jun 2014 14:06 GMT

The case of Mariam Yahya, who is married to a Christian American, set off an international outcry [AFP]

A Sudanese court has ordered the release of a 27-year-old woman who was sentenced to death last month for converting from Islam to Christianity, according to the state news agency.

The case of Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, who is married to a Christian American, triggered an international outcry. Britain had last month summoned the Sudanese charge d'affaires in protest at the sentencing.

"The appeal court ordered the release of Mariam Yahya and the cancellation of the [previous] court ruling," Sudan's SUNA news agency said on Monday.

A government official had told Reuters news agency on May 31 that Sudanese officials were working to release Ibrahim.

Ibrahim was sentenced to 100 lashes for what it deemed her adultery for marrying a Christian.

She gave birth in prison to a daughter, her second child by her American husband Daniel Wani.